How much do you know about the Penguins' style of play?"It’s one that working pretty good for them. They’ve been a pretty good team for a couple of years now. They’re consistent every year. I haven’t had a chance to meet (Dan Bylsma) yet. But I’ve talked to him on the phone and he seems very optimistic about it. You get excited talking to him. The system obviously is an aggressive one. And that’s fun. That’s they way you want to play. You want to go after teams. You want to go after teams and try to create stuff. I’m looking forward to that."

I think he'll fill that third line role fine. As others have pointed out, he won't generate the offense Staal did, but he's still the best in his class for the role. How long until we try him on Sid's wing? 3 games? 4?

I remember hearing that Bylsma stated that with the big three down the middle, he felt obligated to play the third line more than he wanted to because he didn't want to not give Staal ice time. We'll see what this does to the system.

DocEmrick wrote:I think he'll fill that third line role fine. As others have pointed out, he won't generate the offense Staal did, but he's still the best in his class for the role. How long until we try him on Sid's wing? 3 games? 4?

I may be in the minority here, but I am a big fan of this trade - I'm really looking forward to seeing a more traditional 3rd line here. Staal got a little lax on the defensive side of the ice, from my view, during the last season as he grew more competent north of the red line. I think roles are going to be more clearly defined this year - lines 1 and 2 are heading up ice with the expressed intent of potting goals. Line 3 is going to keep the opponents line 1 and 2 in check, as it were, with the opportunistic chance as it presents itself (Sutter is not slouch in the the oh-ffensive zone), and line 4 is going to bang and crash... I hope.

DocEmrick wrote:I think he'll fill that third line role fine. As others have pointed out, he won't generate the offense Staal did, but he's still the best in his class for the role. How long until we try him on Sid's wing? 3 games? 4?

I may be in the minority here, but I am a big fan of this trade - I'm really looking forward to seeing a more traditional 3rd line here. Staal got a little lax on the defensive side of the ice, from my view, during the last season as he grew more competent north of the red line. I think roles are going to be more clearly defined this year - lines 1 and 2 are heading up ice with the expressed intent of potting goals. Line 3 is going to keep the opponents line 1 and 2 in check, as it were, with the opportunistic chance as it presents itself (Sutter is not slouch in the the oh-ffensive zone), and line 4 is going to bang and crash... I hope.

Old school hockey, eh? Puttin' on the foil, eh coach? Toe Blake?

I'm with you Guinness. As Staal grew more proficient "north of the red line" I think he became enamored with the opportunity to put one in the back of the net. Nothing really wrong with that, except that his "D" responsibilities suffered as a result, and he became, in essence, the second 2nd line center on the team. In Sutter we get back that 3rd line center, and a pretty good one at that. He's gonna fit in just fine.

DocEmrick wrote:I think he'll fill that third line role fine. As others have pointed out, he won't generate the offense Staal did, but he's still the best in his class for the role. How long until we try him on Sid's wing? 3 games? 4?

I may be in the minority here, but I am a big fan of this trade - I'm really looking forward to seeing a more traditional 3rd line here. Staal got a little lax on the defensive side of the ice, from my view, during the last season as he grew more competent north of the red line. I think roles are going to be more clearly defined this year - lines 1 and 2 are heading up ice with the expressed intent of potting goals. Line 3 is going to keep the opponents line 1 and 2 in check, as it were, with the opportunistic chance as it presents itself (Sutter is not slouch in the the oh-ffensive zone), and line 4 is going to bang and crash... I hope.

Old school hockey, eh? Puttin' on the foil, eh coach? Toe Blake?

I'm with you Guinness. As Staal grew more proficient "north of the red line" I think he became enamored with the opportunity to put one in the back of the net. Nothing really wrong with that, except that his "D" responsibilities suffered as a result, and he became, in essence, the second 2nd line center on the team. In Sutter we get back that 3rd line center, and a pretty good one at that. He's gonna fit in just fine.

BEPF

In total agreement with both of you on all counts. Staal may have been the worst forward defensively during the last playoff series and that is really saying something.

no name wrote:Could of been Jordan wanted to showcase his offenisve abilities for Carolina for his new contract... maybe?It still would of been nice to trade Jordan to a team of our choosing instead of being forced to trade to Carolina. I would of prefered a equal one for one trade and get Sid a winger.

Definately agree with the bolded part of the quote. And having a choice is always preferable to being forced.

Never wanted to lose Staal, but Sutter coming back + Doumoulin and Pouliot, Ray did good. Sutter is going to be a lot of fun to watch, really excited to have him in our lineup, kid is a hell of a player in his own right.

I never saw Staal as a shut-down checking center, even before he started scoring more. He had all the tools to be one, except for the aspect of being a "pest". He never had the ability to actually get the opposing center off his game.

Sarcastic wrote:It'd be nice if Sutter could put up 25g/25ass. If he's stuck at 30 points and Sid has no winger to unleash fury with... bleh.

I feel like he will definitely hit 40 points as he will get a lot of time on the 2nd PP unit. 25/25 is asking a little too much and Staal never even hit that as a 3rd line center. It's possible, but it's at the very upper end. What he will bring is defensive responsibility as he is one of the best in the game. See for yourself though through the stats and also see just how far Staal has fallen (versus perception) in terms of his defense over the past few seasons: http://hockeyanalysis.com/2012/06/23/jordan-staal-vs-brandon-sutter/

sil wrote:Don't be surprised to see Sutter get worked into the top PP line as well (does Bylsma really even run 2 lines???)...he has something most of the current forward core does not...a right handed shot.

It's hard to imagine him on the first unit given the current lineup. Addionally, that could strain the line configurations having the centers from the top 3 lines all out together.

Sarcastic wrote:It'd be nice if Sutter could put up 25g/25ass. If he's stuck at 30 points and Sid has no winger to unleash fury with... bleh.

I feel like he will definitely hit 40 points as he will get a lot of time on the 2nd PP unit. 25/25 is asking a little too much and Staal never even hit that as a 3rd line center. It's possible, but it's at the very upper end. What he will bring is defensive responsibility as he is one of the best in the game. See for yourself though through the stats and also see just how far Staal has fallen (versus perception) in terms of his defense over the past few seasons: http://hockeyanalysis.com/2012/06/23/jordan-staal-vs-brandon-sutter/

Nice link. Yeah, the defensive game has left Jordan Staal a while ago. I know I haven't been happy with that going back to last year and the year before. Good luck to him, but it'll probably be nice to have a shutdown centerman again.